Spacer for car-loaded boxes



June 25, 1M6. c. M. ELLIS I SPACER FOR CAR-LOADED BOXES Filed April 21, 1943 CZaren as M Ellis Patented June 25,1946

Clarence M. Ellis, Lodi, Calit, assignor of one-.

third to J. E. Devine and one-third to James M.

Prentice, Lodi, Calif.

Application April 21, 1943, Serial No. 483,887

This invention relates to devices to be used in connection with car-loaded fruit boxes, to maintain the desired spaces between the boxes and the car substantially constant irrespective of jolting or swayingoi the car when under way, and thus prevent the pounding of the boxes and damage thereto, besides allowing for the necessary air circulation therebetween.

The present invention is particularly an improvement over the structure shown in my copending application, Serial No. 420,165, filed November 24, 1941, now Patent No. 2,341,088, February 8, 1944, as well as over other devices now'used for the purpose; and the objects of this invention are-to provide a spacer unit which has the following distinct advantages as compared with such other structures:

1. Less material is needed.

2. No nailing or similar operations are necessary either before or during installation.

3. Better ventilation is afforded.

4. A better and wider range of adjustment is had to compensate for variations in correct width and any difference in box length which would affect the over-all length of a tier of boxes.

5. It is easier to apply, or install, and is suitable for either transverse r longitudinal positioning of the boxes in a car.

6. No long pieces, mill stock, or similar high grade lumber is necessary, and which is hard if not impossible to obtain at present.

7. The units can be made of scrap, such as waste from box factory operations, and which are Preadily obtainable; and the dimensions of the units, except as to one element, are not critical.

As a result, therefore, I am still able to properly load cars, since I do not depend on any nonavailable or hard-to-get materials, while at the same time the efllciency, rather than being imand spacer arrangement.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a unit detached.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the supporting plate 3 Claims. (Cl. 105-367) of the unit with the peg removed, showing the offset positioning of the peg holes.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the complete unit.

Referring now more particularly to the char actors of reference ,on the drawing, my improved spacer unit comprises a wooden plate I and a wooden peg 2. The plate, which is preferably square, is provided' with a round straight-sided hole 3 disposed in differently offset relation to all four sides of the plate, as:shown in Fig. 4. The peg 3 is also round and of taper form, being preferably chamfered as at 4 on its lower small end. The diameter of the peg substantially centrally of its length is the same as that of the hole 3, so that when seated in the hole the peg will project substantially equal distances above and below the plate. The taper of the peg is relatively fine so that the diameter of the peg at its opposite ends is not materially different; the taper being merely for the purpose of enabling the peg to be firmly mounted in connection with the plate without the use of nails or the like, the chamfer 4 making for easy initial locating of the peg in the hole. Since a plate 6x6x /2" is of ample size, while the peg may be of 1% stock x 3 /2" in length, it will be seen that the units may be readily made out of scrap material; the ease and cheapness of manufacture being enhanced by the fact that the above dimensions are not critical and need not be rigidly adhered to. Variations in the size of the plate and the length of the peg make no difference in the application or effectiveness of the units as long as the different pegs are interchangeable in the different plates.

In use a single unit serves as a spacer between adjacent boxes 5 of two adjacent tiers, as shown in Fig. 1, being placed substantially centrally of the sides of the boxes, which abut against each other lengthwise of the car 6 in the particular loading arrangement shown in Fig. 2. A single unit also serves as a spacer between the endmost boxes of adjacent tiers and the adjacent sidewall 6a of the car.

Loading operations are started from one side of the car, each spacer unit (assembled on the job) being placed in position in conjunction with the placing of the boxes so as to maintain the boxes substantially snug with the pegs. The diameter of the pegs determines the width of the spaces S between adjacent boxes, while the distance from the side of the plate engaged with the car sidewall to the opposite side of the peg determines the width of the space between said wall and the ad jacent box. When the last box in a tier is placed When placing the spacer units across-the spaces between intermediate boxes in the tier no particular positioning of the spacer plates isnecessary since the extent of projectionof the plates over the boxes one way or the other i immaterial. Also, due to the straight bore hole the plates may be inverted without affecting the setting of the pegs relative to the plates. Since the pegsdo not materially difier in size on opposite sides of the late, due to the fine taper used, the spaces Sbetween the boxes of adjacent tiers aremaintained substantially the same.

It will thus be seen that loader, having a supply of plates and pegs in difierent containersin the car, may quickly and. easily assemble the units and place them without attentionas totheir relative positions, except when operating on the last loaded endmost boxes in the tiers.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth. in. detail the present and preferred construction of the, device, 5

4 still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1., Aspacer unit for car-loaded boxes disposed in: a transverse horizontal tier and in spaced relation to each other and to the sides of the car,

said unit comprising, for each of the endmost boxes in the tier, 8, flat sided plate adapted to rest on a box and to bridge the adjacent space and a peg supported by, and depending from the plate into said space; the peg being mounted in offset relation to thesides of the plate whereby to selectively alter the distance from the side edge of the plate engaged with the car side, to the side of the peg opposite said plate side according to the width of the space between the endmost box and the car. side. 7

2. A spacer unitas in claim 1-,;inwhichthe plate is rectangular and thepeg isicircular, H H

3. A spacerfor boxes which are; arranged, in adjacent end to end relation,,such spacer consist ing ofv a relatively small body plate adapted; to overlie the. tops of the end portions; only of; two adjacent boxes, and bridge-the. spacebetween said boxes, the body being, provided with: arr orifice, and a tapered peg removably, wedgedin-said orifice and projecting beyond the facesof the plate and adapted to extend between the'adj acent ends of the. boxes, to hold; them inpredetermined spaced relation. 1 CLARENCE M; ELLIS. 

